Friday, August 10, 2012

A Guitarist in the Fae Queen’s Court by Amber Kell

When JB auditions for a gig, a remorseless queen traps him in the
Fae kingdom. Raine avoids Fae court intrigue, but when JB goes missing,
Raine gives up his freedom to save the man he loves.
Jimmy Bo Jackson auditions for a gig but ends up stuck in the Fae kingdom unable to return to his man.
Prince Raine avoids the stifling environment of the Fae court, but when
JB is trapped, he'll jump into the intrigue and backstabbing, and
willingly give up everything to save the man he loves.

Seeing the line of musicians filling the hallway, JB tightened his hold
on the battered guitar case until the hard plastic bit into his fingers.
Nerves rattled through his body like an earthquake, shattering his
confidence as it went. He had to get this job. The cops had shut down
the club he currently played at, claiming it was a drug haven or that it
harbored prostitutes or something like that. He didn't really pay
attention until the 'Closed' sign went up, along with the boards across
the windows. When JB told Raine about the club shutting down, his lover
had smiled crazily like Christmas had come three months early.

Raine had never liked the bar. He always claimed the owner watched JB's
ass too much for Raine's comfort. Of course Raine didn't appreciate the
way anyone looked at JB or that other men had eyes.

"Hey, JB!" Mike Nelson nodded from his spot further up the line. Mike
had gelled his short blond hair until it stood up in spikes, covered his
arms with multiple bracelets, and dressed in strategically ripped
clothing.

His fit body drew more than one interested gaze.

JB nodded back. He and Mike often auditioned for the same gigs. Mike
had the sort of star presence most musicians dreamed about, while JB had
a more low-key style. Needless to say, they weren't buddies. They'd be
frenemies if they were friends.

Quickly sliding into line, JB resolutely pushed the competition out of
his mind. He needed to focus on his possible future employment. Nothing
would derail him faster than fixating on Mike instead of focusing on his
own music.

The ad claimed the clients were looking for someone who could play a
stringed instrument, vocals optional. Kind of an odd request, but a
musician looking for work didn't question eccentricity, especially
considering the generous salary listed.

How hard could performing for some VIPs be anyway? If it turned into a
regular gig JB could come home for once without reeking of tobacco and
booze. As long as the job didn't involve removing his clothes, JB would
take it if offered. Hell, forget that. He'd even be all for working in
the nude if it got him a timely paycheck.

He didn't suffer from excessive modesty.

Unfortunately, before he left the apartment, Raine had told JB if he
had to take off even one piece of clothing, to walk away. "Because if
they think they're going to get a cheap thrill over my man, they'd
better think again."

Why Raine thought anyone else would want to see JB's skinny, naked ass,
he didn't know, but Raine's gravelly threat almost had him heading back
to bed and letting the man mark him all over again. JB could still feel
the sting from Raine's teeth on his shoulder from the night before.

Unfortunately, JB really needed a job and this one appealed to him more
than any of the other auditions currently posted. If he didn't get a
gig soon, he might as well throw in the towel and live off his
boyfriend.

Raine would be ecstatic.

After three years of living with Raine, JB knew he could survive just
about anything as long as he had his man. Raine had helped JB through
alcoholism, supported him with his struggling career, and removed him
from a bad boyfriend situation. In return Raine had JB's complete
devotion.

Although JB knew he should be focusing on what he wanted to play, he
couldn't help glancing over the competition. There were the usual young,
shiny kids still in school looking for a weekend gig and the
sallow-complexioned older guys who'd seen more action than JB ever
wanted to experience. A few musicians JB recognized, they exchanged head
nods, and the rest of them JB ignored.

They weren't anything to worry about.

Finding an empty space along the wall, JB slid until his butt reached
the wooden floor. He knew from experience it would take at least a few
hours before his turn came up, assuming they didn't hire someone before
they even heard him play. It wouldn't be the first time. They were under
no obligation to listen to JB just because he showed up. A musician's
life didn't include fairness in the job description.

Opening his battered guitar case, JB lifted out his instrument. With
the guitar in his hands JB felt settled for the first time since
arriving for the audition. Left to him by his daddy, a man who died
while JB still wore diapers, he thought of it like an old friend. When
Raine offered to buy JB a new guitar, they had their first real fight.

Taking a slow, cleansing breath he started tuning his guitar, the
familiar motion a balm for his shaky nerves. JB closed his eyes and
strummed a few bars before warming his throat on the piece he was
writing for Raine. He and Raine weren't the mushy type of lovers. JB had
never even said those three little words, but the knowledge lived
strong and fierce between them. JB hoped this song would show Raine his
feelings without making his lover uncomfortable.

Sinking into the music, JB jerked in surprise when someone kicked his
left boot. He had to blink a few times to pull out of the well of deep
concentration he'd slipped into. Scowling, he looked up to find a
black-haired, muscular man standing above him wearing a frown like the
one JB's mother used to give him when he'd particularly annoyed her. The
stranger reminded JB a little bit of Raine. Something about the way
both men stood as if they were in charge and expected everyone to listen
to their demands. When Raine gave JB his commanding look it made JB
harder than rock. With this guy JB had to resist the urge to pull the
knife from his boot and stab the stranger in the foot. He hated people
who were assholes on principle.

JB always carried his knife. He never knew when the place he played at
might have some questionable clientele. Raine had gifted it to JB on
their first anniversary. Some people gave flowers, JB's lover wanted him
to be well-armed.

"Hey, man," JB greeted the intruder with a guarded look as he struggled
to keep a check on his temper. What kind of person interrupted a man
mid-song?

"You're up next," the man said. His eyes were dark and flat as if this entire situation bored the hell out of him.

JB glanced up the line. There were at least thirty musicians ahead of him.

"I don't want to cause no trouble," JB drawled as he eyed the
disgruntled expressions on the other musicians' faces. They looked like
they'd happily disembowel him for cutting ahead in line.

JB shrugged. If the client wished to hear him next he wouldn't say no.
JB needed a job no matter what Raine said. He knew his lover would be
more than happy to take care of their bills, but a man had to have his
pride, and JB had more than his fair share. He was no man's kept boy.

JB stood with his guitar in one hand, his case in the other, and nodded to the dark-haired man. "I'm ready."

The stranger looked him up and down before turning and walking along
the hall. JB hurried after the guy, trying not to trip on instrument
cases or people as he went. He could tell from their expressions that
more than one musician wouldn't mind watching JB fall on his face.

They stopped before a door with the word 'stage' printed on it.

The guy turned to talk to JB, his tone as serious as death. "Don't ask
them any questions. When I open the door I want you to walk onto the
stage and play that song you were playing before."

"But it's still a work in progress," JB protested. "I have more
polished pieces ready for the audition." He always liked to bring his
best to the table. How much would they be able to tell from a half
written song?

The man scowled. "I'll warn them that you're still working on it, but you play that song."

JB shrugged. "Okay." He wouldn't argue with a man over a rough piece of
music. The customer was always right and all that crap. "Can I play
another one after?" Maybe he'd get a second chance if they liked the
first one enough.

"If it's necessary." The man's tone indicated JB had one shot and he'd
better not blow it. It took a lot of effort to resist the urge to turn
around and leave. After all JB didn't think he'd get the job with the
audition piece requested by Mr Tall, Dark and Scowly.

Asshole.

Opening the door, the man, whose name JB still didn't know, waved for
him to enter first. Nervous energy jolted through JB's body like a
lightning storm when he peered at the brightly-lit stage. He took
another slow, cleansing breath to find his center before walking across
the wooden boards. His boots thudded on the stage, the sound echoing in
the cavernous room with each step he took.

JB squinted under blinding lights. He couldn't see the audience and the
heat from the light bulbs soaked his shirt with sweat before he'd even
started. JB nodded towards where he guessed people were seated, as he
couldn't see them, before setting down his guitar case and launching
into Raine's song. In JB's mind, the melody lacked a bit of something he
had yet to define. The piece needed more fine-tuning but the client
requested this music so they were going to get it. Taking a long, slow,
breath JB blocked out everything else and focused on singing his love
story. His heart bled across the stage with each strum of the guitar.

The song finished with the notes fading into a soft melody, ringing of
love and commitment. At the end of the song a long silence greeted him.
No coughing, no mutters or whispers that JB could hear, only quiet.

"I can play something else," he offered even as his hopes sank faster than his cousin's rowboat after a gator ate half of it.

Silence never came before a job offer, at least not in JB's experience.
Sighing, he kneeled beside his guitar case, opened the latches, and
quickly settled his instrument back inside before snapping it closed
again.

Standing up he bowed to his mute audience. "Thank you for the opportunity."

No sounds came from the silent listeners when JB turned to leave. He
was almost glad he didn't get the job. Anyone who couldn't even thank
him for coming lacked basic manners. JB didn't like to work for people
like that.

Shrugging, he headed back to the door he'd entered through. Tomorrow he
would scan the ads again and find another place to audition.

The weight of failure rested heavily on his shoulders and although he
tried to philosophically brush off the lack of response, silently he
wondered where he'd gone wrong. Maybe the people he sang for didn't have
the same musical taste as the guy who plucked JB from the line. He knew
he had a good voice and his guitar playing was top-notch, but somehow
he never seemed to catch a break. There apparently weren't a lot of jobs
for battered country singers with attitude. JB sighed again. Raine
would be so happy, he preferred JB at home anyway.

Grabbing the doorknob, a tingle of electricity zapped JB. He didn't
know how but apparently he'd collected a crap load of static crossing
the stage.

"Shit." JB shook his hand and reached for the knob again. He gave a soft gasp of relief when he didn't receive a second jolt.

Opening the door, his pleasure over not being shocked vanished.

White.

Everything.

Walls, floor, a glowing mysterious light source, were all white.

"What the fuck?"

Walking through the doorway, JB looked around, his mouth dropping open.
Where were the other musicians? For that matter where the hell did the
building go? This hallway didn't look anything like the one JB left to
enter the stage. Maybe he'd gone the wrong way. Turning back around, he
stopped in surprise.

No door.

The wall, smooth and unblemished, mocked him with its blankness. Had he
fallen and hit his head on the stage? Would he wake up in a hospital
bed with a million things beeping around him like in the movies? What
the fuck had happened?